Only a year on from forming a major strategic transport and infrastructure partnership across three counties, the group dubbed England’s Economic Heartland is set to expand.
Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire councils will be joined in the Alliance by Cambridgeshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire, it has been announced.
The news comes as ministers plan to enable local transport authorities to put forward a proposal for the creation of regional transport bodies, under the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill.
The local transport authorities in the Alliance are developing a proposal for England’s Economic Heartland for consideration in early 2016, it has emerged.
A Strategic Transport Forum for the Alliance – which will also include representatives from four Local Enterprise Partnerships - will meet for the first time on February 12 next year, to help direct the transport strategy.
Cllr Jim Harker, chairman of the Strategic Transport Forum and leader of Northamptonshire County Council, said: ‘This is a significant step for the Strategic Alliance. All of the partners recognise that strategic transport planning gives us the opportunity to plan more efficiently and to work with the private sector to secure the investment we need to continue to realise our economic potential.
‘It is absolutely essential that we continue to make the case for investment in our transport networks and our services. The Strategic Transport Forum gives us the ability to have a new dialogue with Government: I am determined to ensure that our voice is heard alongside the rest of the UK.’
Members of the Strategic Transport Forum include:
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Northamptonshire County Council
- Buckinghamshire County Council
- Milton Keynes Council
- Bedford Borough Council
- Central Bedfordshire Council
- Luton Borough Council
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
- Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership
- Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership
- South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership
- Oxfordshire Growth Board
- Department for Transport
- Highways England
- Network Rail
- Civil Engineering Contractors Association
